Cytochrome P450 enzymes Subject

Cytochrome P450 enzymes have been the subject of a number of recent reviews in which their mechanism and scope of action are covered in much detail [1, 6, 10, 11]. The reader is referred to these articles for a more thorough account of the mechanism and reactivity of cytochrome P450 enzymes, while we present a few representative examples of cytochrome P450-catalyzed epoxidation below. The enzymes we chose are all involved in the biosynthesis of polyketide natural products. Polyketides are a large, structurally diverse family of compounds and have provided a wealth of therapeutically useful drugs and drug leads. 

Isoniazid inhibits cytochrome P450 enzyme function and thus can interact with drugs that are subject to cytochrome P450 mediated metabolism like warfarin and the antiepileptic agents phenytoin and car-bamazepine. 

Species differences in the metabolism of di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate have been reported and attempts have been made to explain the susceptibility of animals to di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-induced hepatic peroxisome proliferation based on their metabolic profiles (Doull et al., 1999). As mentioned above, the bulk of a di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate dose is absorbed as the mono-ester, mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate, and following absorption this metabolite is subjected to extensive oxidative metabolism mediated by cytochrome P450 enzymes (Albro Lavenhar, 1989 Astill, 1989 Huber et al., 1996 Doull et al., 1999). The metabolism of mono(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate has been summarized by Doull et al. (1999) as follows (see Figure 1) ... 

Booth Depaz IM, Toselli F, Wilce PA, Gillam EM (2013) Differential expression of human cytochrome P450 enzymes from the CYP3A subfamily in the brains of alcoholic subjects and drug-free controls. Drug Metab Dispos 41 1187-1194... 

Many enzymes have been the subject of protein engineering studies, including several that are important in medicine and industry, eg, lysozyme, trypsin, and cytochrome P450. SubtiHsin, a bacterial serine protease used in detergents, foods, and the manufacture of leather goods, has been particularly well studied (68). This emphasis is in part owing to the wealth of stmctural and mechanistic information that is available for this enzyme. 

Superoxide is formed (reaction 1) in the red blood cell by the auto-oxidation of hemoglobin to methemo-globin (approximately 3% of hemoglobin in human red blood cells has been calculated to auto-oxidize per day) in other tissues, it is formed by the action of enzymes such as cytochrome P450 reductase and xanthine oxidase. When stimulated by contact with bacteria, neutrophils exhibit a respiratory burst (see below) and produce superoxide in a reaction catalyzed by NADPH oxidase (reaction 2). Superoxide spontaneously dismu-tates to form H2O2 and O2 however, the rate of this same reaction is speeded up tremendously by the action of the enzyme superoxide dismutase (reaction 3). Hydrogen peroxide is subject to a number of fates. The enzyme catalase, present in many types of cells, converts... 

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